Marco Aguas to receive 'Special Recognition Award' at ShowEast

Marco Aguas, United International Pictures distributor in Ecuador, will receive a “Special Recognition Award” at ShowEast 2017. Aguas will be presented with the honor as a part of the International Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.

“ShowEast is thrilled to be able to honor Marco Aguas for his remarkable work as an industry leader,” said Andrew Sunshine, VP of the Film Expo Group, which manages ShowEast. “Under his leadership and direction, Ecuador has become a prosperous region for the moviegoing experience. We congratulate him on this well-deserved honor.”

Aguas was born in 1943 in Riobamba, Ecuador. In 1967, he joined United Artists of Ecuador, Inc., launching his career in the movie distribution business. In 1969, Aguas was promoted to general manager, serving until 1983 when he joined Cinema International Corporation and United International Pictures. From 1984 to 1987, Aguas managed the opening of Cine Ecuador, a branch of Cine Colombia, and in 1987 he was promoted to managing director of United International Pictures in Ecuador. Aguas was managing director for a decade until he became the UIP distributor of Ecuador.

Since 1972, Aguas has lived in Quito, Ecuador and has led investments in multiplex theatres in the region. Under his leadership, in 1994 the first four multiplexes opened in Guayaquil, followed by two in Quito in 1995. Today, there are a total of 41 theatres with 298 screens in 20 cities in Ecuador. Additionally, Aguas has promoted the movie industry in Ecuador, negotiating the elimination of price controls in movie theatres, reduction of admission taxes, exhibition terms and advertising planning.

Over five decades, Aguas has released around 2,000 films in Ecuador, including the Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns, Rocky, TheGodfather, and the Shrek, Fast & Furious and Transformers series, among many blockbusters from United Artists, Paramount Pictures and Universal Pictures.